Marty on Joe
Marty Brennaman is on a cruise. He was in the middle of the Pacific when he got word of the Joe Nuxhall's death. Brennaman knew how sick Nuxhall was, but he wasn't expecting it.
"I went to bed early. I woke about three o'clock in the morning, and I had a text from Rob Butcher from 12:55 (a.m.) that said "911." It never crossed my mind that Joe had died."
Brennaman was grateful that he got one more day with Nuxhall, shortly before departing on a cruise.
"We played together in a golf match that some had bid on in charity auction. He played at Kenwood Country Club. It was apparent that he was weak and not feeling well. I think he only swung the club about five times. I said, 'Joe, what do you go home.' He said, 'No, it's a beautiful day. I'm tired of laying around.' So he rode along the whole round. He laughed and joked. I feel blessed that I had a chance to spend that time together."
posted by John Fay at 11:47 AM
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Post a Comment*Poor Marty - it must be hard for him. And obviously, I feel truly awful for the Nuxhall family - if you talk to them, let them know we're praying for them.
My heart broke when I read the news this morning. Heck, it's been 4.5 hrs and I still feel like crying.
To me, Joe Nuxhall was the Cincinnati Reds. I've been following the Reds since I was a little girl, and ever since that time, Joe's voice always drew me in over the airways. His excitement was infectious; I'll never forget him coaxing balls out of the stadium. If anyone else did it, it would seem unprofessional, but with Joe, it was passion. Passion for the game, and passion for his team. That excitement inspired many a Reds fan throughout the years; I know it helped plant the love of baseball in my little heart. When he messed up names, it wasn't annoying, it was funny. It just made Joe all the more endearing - he was a human being you could relate to. In fact, this past summer, he kept messing up names. He stopped himself mid-sentence and said "What am I doing? I can't say a thing tonight. I need a nap." While it saddened me to hear him struggle so, his self-deprecating humor also made me laugh. Joe's commitment to the community was an example to everyone. His work with his foundation even at his age was admirable.
In an era of steroids and lawsuits, tension between players and the media, and vastly inflated contracts, Joe Nuxhall represented what baseball TRULY was - passion, enthusiasm, loyalty and integrity. He will truly be missed; baseball has lost one incredible man.
This past summer before Joe came to Symmes Tavern for a fund raiser for his Character Education Fund, I met with him at his Driving Range. He was alone at the last tee closest to the river, and I walked out to speak to him. He was weak, but in the course of an hour and a half, he would hit a few balls, sit down, talk baseball and his fund raiser, and was touched that I came out to speak with hm and that he was allowed to talk to me about his golf, his foundation, and baseball. Joe was a great guy!
I'm 43 and all I can say is that I grown up a kid listening to the old lefthander and being poor, he made my days and nights the best experience sitting around listing to him rounding third and heading home... Well he going home and nothing will ever replace him, as the same with Cadwood Ledford that were Icons to me.....
There is a continuum of character in Baseball.
Bonds is at the low end, Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, and Joe Nuxhall are amongst those at the high end.
Thanks for the memories, Nuxie!
RIP Joe and thanks for memories.
I grew up listning to the Marty and Joe on 700.
He was the Reds.
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